ox10 7hh
Benson Choral takes a new turn
Many big choirs such as ours spend much of their time polishing up the jewels of the past, and my goodness, there are many of them! But then along comes something new, and with it the joy of discovery, learning and sharing.
Such a work is Richard Blackford’s Pietà (2019). Richard is a distinguished local composer, prominent in many fields, and we were drawn to his Mirror of Perfection a few years back. His Pietà is based on the powerful and poignant mediaeval poem Stabat Mater which depicts Mary’s suffering at the foot of the Cross. But he adds some graphic poems from Anna Akhmatova’s Requiem which give a more modern twist. Pietà won Richard the Ivor Novello Composer Award, Choral Category, in 2020.
The other half of the concert is Gabriel Fauré’s incomparable Requiem, a restrained and reflective work with some memorable melodies, particularly for our tenors, who often get the big tune first!
Directing us for the first time is Jonathon Cole-Swinard who brings his experience as Head of Music and Chorus Director at Garsington Opera, together with 2 of the soloists from Pietà”s Bournemouth première as well as local virtuoso saxophonist Huw Wiggin and the West Forest Sinfonia.
The concert will take place at Dorchester Abbey on Saturday 23 March at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 (reserved) or £17 (ureserved) and are available online at www.bensonchoralsociety.org.uk It will be a night to remember!
Benson Choral Society’s next concert combines the new with the old – local composer Richard Blackford’s recent Pietà and Gabriel Fauré’s incomparable Requiem. Richard’s work has gained much critical acclaim and has as its basis the powerful and poignant mediaeval poem Stabat Mater which depicts Mary’s suffering at the foot of the Cross.
Directing us for the first time is Jonathon Cole-Swinard who brings his experience as Head of Music and Chorus Director at Garsington Opera, together with 2 of the soloists from Pietà”s Bournemouth première as well as local virtuoso saxophonist Huw Wiggin and the West Forest Sinfonia.
The concert will take place at Dorchester Abbey on Saturday 23 March at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 (reserved) or £17 (ureserved) and are available online at www.bensonchoralsociety.org.uk. It will be a night to remember!
